34 weeks!!?! Is this real?

So, we've made it this far. It's thrilling yet extremely scary to know that my baby is healthy now and could easily survive outside of the womb. She's breech so that has me concerned. I assume that there is a reason for this presentation and am not of the mind to try a "version" (where doctors exert physical force in order to turn the baby to the normal vertex position). The cerclage is scheduled to be taken out during the 3rd week of April so we're talking 2 1/2 weeks!! I find out tomorrow if a C-section will be scheduled due to the breech presentation. What can I say? We are ready to be parents. Our house is completely "babyfied". Caley has it all, the chic crib, pack 'n play, swing, jumper, tons of clothes, blankets, burp cloths, bottle warmer, Diaper Genie....it goes on and on. I try to imagine the moment when our eyes meet for the first time. I know that my imagination will not do the actual moment justice. It is a magical moment for every mother. This pregnancy has taught me to live in the moment, to be grateful for what is happening right now, to be still, to trust and to accept that I can't control my situation, only respond to it. I plan to start a Caley blog once she's here. There will be so much more to write about....so many firsts. Thank you for sharing with us thus far. Peace.

Trusting Your Body

The thing is, many of us trust our own bodies. We go through our lives and, unless, we have a sensation that isn't pleasant, we trust that everything is okay. My mission was to trust my body during this pregnancy. I felt that I was "fixed" with the septum resection surgery and I could do as most pregnant women do, that is, walk, practice yoga, do household chores, etc. I was mistaken. It's now been 3 months and I've been on bedrest or modified bedrest. Let me define this for all of you that are thinking, "That doesn't sound so bad." Modified Bedrest-Absolutely no exercise, not even gentle pre-natal yoga, little activity, no household chores, no unnecessary walking. The goal is to stay horizontal as much as possible. Bedrest-Laying horizontally in bed all day/night. Being completely dependent on your husband/partner, family and friends. Only leaving bed to use the bathroom. Now, for the anatomy lesson. Cervix: Bottom of the uterus. This is what dilates and effaces to allow the baby to pass through the birth canal. So, my cervix started funnelling and shortening 16 weeks into the pregnancy. My OB recommended a cervical cerclage. This is where they go in and place a suture around the cervix. Think about a bagel and putting a thick thread around the bagel to "lock" the center of the bagel together. With the pressure of the baby, the cervix dilates normally at the end stages of pregnancy. Mine was beginning to open very early, so the bedrest has helped. Anyone who is prescribed bedrest, begin to tap into your inner strength. Being still is probably the toughest thing to do for us westerners (meaning "Americans") but it can teach us so much about ourselves if we only let it. So, another lesson that God/the Universe is trying to teach me.